Astrology Looks At the Birth Chart of Barack Obama

by Robert Wilkinson

While there has been rampant speculation about Barack Obama's true birth time, it should have been dispelled when he released his birth certificate where his exact birth time is listed. Barack Obama was born 4 August, 1961, in Honolulu, Hawaii, at exactly 7:24 pm. It is definitive that he has 19 Aquarius as his Ascendant. The Sabian Symbol for this degree is portentous for what confronts the 44th President of the United States. For astrologers who want a glimpse of his chart, a jpeg is at the bottom of this article.

This will not be an exhaustive study of the chart of a remarkable man, since that could fill an entire book. Today we'll look at some of the salient features of his chart so that we may understand who is at the helm of the United States government. Given that we already have seen his cool and calm in the face of slander and mockery, we already know something of his character. Today we will examine some primary elements that are backdrop to his obvious personality traits and explore other inner factors of this great man.

That he has the potential to be a historical figure of enormous stature is shown by Jupiter and Saturn in the 12th house, with Saturn in its home sign of Capricorn closely conjunct Jupiter at the first degree of Aquarius. That degree is one of "the immortalization of an ideal," and the building of "civilizing institutions" that will be the spiritual touchstones for future generations.

Saturn's degree shows that he deeply understands the "downward flow" of subtle spiritual energies in their most natural forms, as 26 Capricorn has associations with "inexhaustible soul resources," "transcendence of spirit over body and environment," and "lightness of understanding." In the 12th it shows a very heavy burden, as well as a profound universal wisdom. Conjunct Jupiter in Aquarius, it shows a visionary altruism and a karma of world service to whatever degree the being is willing to prepare for.

Whenever Jupiter and Saturn are conjunct in a birth chart, it shows a promise of great effectiveness within the social and cultural matrix of the person's time, place, and field of choice. This conjunction is strongly aspected by a Mercury opposition from 3 degrees of Leo, a trine from his Moon at 4 Gemini, as well as a trine from Mars at 23 Virgo. This gives an interesting balance of Earth and Air, which is indicative of his cool demeanor and practical bent with an eye to details and specifics as to how to do something. Though some trines are "out of sign," that only makes the blending more interesting and cross-referencing.

The conjunction expresses itself through Mercury, indicating a challenge to find the right means to coordinate the process in order to communicate the vision and purpose, and not get lost in irrelevancies or the narrower challenges to the vision. It offers a gift of knowing how to persuade others to his conception of things through being able empathically to see any issue as others do and through practical persistence work them to his conception of the larger purpose and vision. This is an aspect of the disciplined mind focusing on larger ideals once the opposition no longer creates inner polarizations. That is one reason why he seems to be able to maneuver through external oppositions without saying or doing unfortunate things.

His self-confidence and manner of expression is shown by the Moon in Gemini, sextile its ruler Mercury in Leo. This gives an adaptable yet inspiring means of expression, one who is always sifting through ways of saying the core of what must be said on his own terms. The house placement of his Mercury and Mars as they aspect his Neptune indicates that as long as he is clear about which of many roles he must play in different circumstances, he'll make great progress in reversing various types of decay in his world. Though he sometimes gets very discouraged and may even want to go a different direction than in the past, he's dedicated to serving a greater practical good that benefits others in substantial ways.

The Sun in Leo in the 6th shows a born public leader who knows how to serve, It's wide conjunction with Uranus conjunct the North Node in Leo in the 7th is a very powerful force that pulls him into his line of greatest evolutionary development. It clearly shows he and his equally remarkable wife Michelle Obama are on the same page. She helps him grow into his nobility, integrity, and sense of the higher order that must be made manifest in his life and relationships. Through his equals he will come to a "revelation of worth" via spiritual linkages through forms of emotional distress, and the blessings that come after the death of useless things.

Aquarius rising is a progressive iconoclast who identifies personally with higher ideals. The 19th degree symbolizes a technique to rise to some challenge that is out of control, which certainly describes the financial and social meltdown of the United States at present that evokes memories of both the Great Depression and the cultural clash of the 1960s. We read that this degree is one of an "exaggeration of life problems, which reveals to man his real stature and which expands him," and requires "indomitability," "faith," and mobilizing every faculty at one's disposal to bring some very destructive circumstances under control.

(A brief note regarding the financial meltdown - from Ronald Reagan through Dubya, more wealth was transferred in the US from We The People to the top 1% of the wealthy elites than at any time since 1920-1929. Statistics now indicate that we stand at a similar concentration of income to the extremely wealthy relative to the poor as we did in 1928. Perhaps when enough wealth is accumulated by the greedy few, it sets the stage for long term financial collapse and the resulting poverty and suffering of millions. If it set the stage for Roosevelt to create the middle class then, perhaps it now sets the stage for the restoration of the middle class under Barack Obama.)

There are quite a few septile series aspects in Barack Obama's chart. Moon triseptile Neptune, Mercury septile Mars, Venus septile Uranus and widely triseptile Saturn, and Jupiter triseptile Uranus are all prominent. I won't discuss each of these separately (that's at least 5 pages!) though taken together they indicate a being who often finds himself unexpectedly at the crossroads of various levels of "destiny," where choices are made and events are set into motion determining the future course of how personal, interpersonal, and transpersonal dimensions of life events operate.

He is here to participate in various kinds of non-rational interpersonal cooperative collective group endeavors that involve diverse forms of training, resoluteness, faith in self, valor, mastery, and facing aroused primal energies to test his and others' "moral strength." He is a master planner with great discipline and a deep value for the concept of sacrifice, doesn't believe in waste or extravagance, and believes everything must be put to purposeful use. His Saturn provides the patience his Jupiter requires, and his visionary Jupiter helps pull his Saturn out of excessively narrow pragmatic views.

He feels, then thinks, then decides. Thus he is not impulsive in the least, and concentrates on the singular fact or act that is needed to move things to the immediate next step. He has an excellent balance of Fire, Earth, Air, and Water in his makeup, showing adeptship in moving between inspiration, practicality, idealism, and deep feelings.

I'll do a more exhaustive report on his progressions in the future. For now, though, it's important to note that his progressed Moon is conjunct his Ascendant. This is a time in life when there are important realizations about needs and what a person really cares about, a point in the life when crucial decisions are made that affect the life for many years to come. It is also why increasingly as his campaign has progressed he has become the embodiment of the "public pulse" demonstrating the theme of "Management" on an actional level.

That the progressed Moon conjuncts his South Node shows that for the next year he will have to fall back on the line of least resistance, demonstrating the growth he'll set into motion through the North Node in Leo. He's been building, growing, and learning for almost a decade, and by late 2009 he'll begin many years of releasing that which has been built. Of particular importance will be when the progressed Moon makes double triseptiles to his Mercury septile Mars in July-August 2009 indicating a big fork in the road leading to the transfigurations and higher awareness and connectedness he'll experience between mid-August and early October 2009.

In February-March 2009 the Progressed Moon will form biseptiles to his natal Moon triseptile Neptune, which I believe will be a dramatic presentation of diverse public works addressing the needs of the people to reverse the decay indicated by Neptune in Scorpio. He is a born reformer, and knows how to incarnate an antiphonic response to grim circumstances. Expect the themes of those months to be turning disappointment into appreciation of small opportunities through cultivating resilience and strength, and finding ways of turning misfortune into potential through self-knowledge, self-appreciation, and eagerness to learn.

Through August he is turning inward to find new understanding and compassion, feels very deeply and personally, and is learning how to give up old three dimensional views and searches by stabilizing his view on a higher level where he can see the larger interrelationships between things. He is learning that intelligence is supreme in dominating circumstances and has been tested to show objective self control. He is finding leaders in every realm who are his equals and pull him into his line of greatest evolution, and capturing forms of sustainment in the larger "wholes of existence."

August 2009 begins an extraordinary year for him, even more so than the past one. It will be difficult in many ways, but also a high point as well. Through will power he will recreate himself and the country through realizing just how independent we can be from old inertias, he'll mobilize the young in ways that haven't been seen in a generation or more, and will employ timeless symbols to show what is dead, what is alive, and how the forms of our existence both conceal and reveal the truth of what IS.

By August his Sun will enter the final degree of Virgo, which as you know has been a major influence for everyone the past several years due to Eclipses triggering that specific degree for years to come. To refresh you, it is a point of "joy of enlisting in a task which broadens the life horizon," and a "willing rising to the occasion" to "escape from a narrow destiny." It will be active in his chart through August 2010, after which his progressed Sun enters Libra, promising a transfiguration of major proportions that shows the "entrance into a greater spiritual reality."

We shall explore these themes and more in future articles. For now, enjoy exploring his chart for yourself and pondering on some of the points raised here.

Comments

Hi all - For those who want a great inside look at the process by which this inexperienced freshman Senator became the President, check out How He Did It from Newsweek. It provides all kinds of insider info about the timing and process on certain critical events and gives an indepth look at Barack Obama's personality. For ambitious astrologers who want to check it out, the timeline of events and decisions related to Obama's progressions and transits should prove a very valuable study.

Dear Robert
thank you so much for this insight into a remarkable and inspiring human being. Being a Pakistani Iam geographically, historically and in almost every way removed from the american story or Mr. Obama's story. But since his candidture was announced I have been audaciously hoping he would win and since his incredible election praying for a just such a man to rise on Pakistani soil. Your article reveals to me that My MC at 19 aquarius is Mr. Obama's ascendant and that his moon falls on my ascendant at 4 gemini. Amazing and gratifying. However,Im still looking for my vocation with that aquarius MC.

What a welcome read! I saw your article just after posting a brief astrological blog on Myspace that revolved around my interpretation of Obama's ascendant and how it brings "the energy of Aquarius" to all of his endeavors -- so perfect as we transition into the Age of Aquarius. I too focused on the Sabian symbology, which I found gratifying and reassuring. Of course, you are my guidestar as to how to probe and synthesize astrological information, so your column directly provided some new benchmarks as I launch deeper into my own astrological education and practice. Thank you, as always.

I am not so sure about everything being "bright", Robert.
Obama will have Neptune transiting its natal chart for a long while, which is not an easy transit I would guess for leadership. But, surely inspiring.
Of more concern, Uranus transiting the second house while Pluto opposes its natal Venus. This are signs of erosion, and not of safety in economic matters. The economic mess will still grow more and more in months ahead!

In 2009, the Saturn-Uranus opposition will also fall right in its Mars, while Saturn enters its eighth house, not an easy house, and I would wonder a warlike combination or some kind of agression or big pressure. This will get activated in 16.12.2008, 14.04.2009 and particularly by 14.08.2009 and 14.09.2009. But as he would have Jupiter and Uranus entering its second house, I would say he could at least uplift the economic and environmental situation.

At least the Neptune is very inspiring and together with the Saturn in eighth house and Uranus in second, all calling for a big transformation in economy, resources, ecology, environment, nature and all neptunian and emotional things of both Neptune and eight house: surely a sign of a spiritual revolution ahead. And also because Jupiter will very soon enter its first house: even in big challenges, he would feel uplifted.
I would say he could easily continue behind 2012, due to its Saturn approaching his MC sometime there.
And he has Pluto transiting 11th house: damn revolutionary and commune-like!

Interestingly I have 25º Aquarius rising, so Obama is kind of a spiritual mate for me :-)

As I have said before my knowledge on the subject of astrology is zero and yet for some reason, thinking has not dismissed it but rather retained a curiosity for.
Apart from that I really like the space you have created here.

Going to Barak's chart. Astrology has been classified as a science.
Now science follows certain laws - although that has changed drastically of late with the quantum laws flattening the Newtonian laws. But nevertheless science has certain criteria and then certain measures for assessing the validity of the argument of hypothesis.

So in the chart of Barak Omama am I seeing your interpretation of things in the order of significance that any other astrologer would see, or would it be unique to you.
Maybe to reword that - if I asked you and three other astrologers to pin point 6 facets of this chart that caught your attention - would they be the same, or would they be dependent on individual understanding and interpretation?

I have a technical question for you: which software package do you use? And does it/can it show the complete septile and novile series (i.e., septile, biseptile, triseptile, novile, binovile, quadranovile)?

Hi aisha - I am sure that many in Pakistan are feeling somewhat relieved that the era of Republican authoritarianism is waning, even if there are still some very violent people around the world seeking power in destabilizing aggression. I would hope that across the entire world there will be a rising up of potentially great leaders who will build toward a world community based in peace and mutual respect rather than heavy handed repressions and violence. Your vocation will involve group work building for the future. You're no doubt a good manager, and should ascend fairly quickly to your professional stature when you've finally found your arena.

Hi AceStar - Thanks for your words. May you also use your Jupiter and Saturn to become great in your way in your country.

Hi Susana - Most "scientists" do not accept the craft as science, due to its lack of replicability. To me it is the study of symbolic mathematics and cycles of becoming with its own measurable phenomena and criteria for validity. Each astrologer has their own approach, just as with medicine and other disciplines. You probably won't find anyone else who approaches it just like me, since I have studied more traditional astrological techniques and observed how it works for longer than most, and have a gift for my own delineation techniques due to my formal background in advanced psychology and comparative spirituality. That is what the art of synthesis is all about. What one astrologer misses another catches, and each has their specialty.

We wouldn't expect a neurosurgeon to know much about oncology, nor a podiatrist to know matters of the ears, eyes, nose and throat. An expect in Constitutional law wouldn't have the same knowledge or approach to other areas, such as family law or torts. As for your final question, perhaps some would and others wouldn't, based on the level of expertise in natal delineation. And even if all 6 of us pointed out the Jupiter conjunct Saturn in the 12th as an important factor, it is likely that beyond the basics we would have very different ways of interpreting it. Some would use textbook meanings, others would use ancient interpretations, some could use fixed star analysis, others psychological astrology, and others spiritual approaches. Some might focus exclusively on aspects, others on signs and dispositors, and so on. Even those of us who use the Sabian Symbols will come up with varying ways of applying them to the same astrological factors.

Hi Layli - Glad you like this brief sketch. I'll elaborate more as the months go on. Also glad you're learning more about the craft through this site. Any good astrologer is a life long learner!

Hi Popp - Yes, with Neptune transiting the first he'll be an agent of the collective for quite a while, and the embodiment of a popular ideal. His leadership is solid with Sun in Leo in the 6th and Mars in the 8th in Virgo ruling his 10th house Scorpio. The Saturn opposition Uranus is a wide spread influence affecting everyone, and because he is the Prez he IS in a position to become the driving force to turn these to favorable manifestations. Uranus in 2nd can make for innovations in how to utilize resources creatively for greater good, and Pluto opposition Venus is no doubt helping him eliminate outmoded likes and people no longer able to embody his now evolved state in the world. It can also mean that he will be opposed by dishonest elements, but what progressive politician hasn't been?

This is where we must separate his personal influences from the force he embodies in the larger world. While the opposition of course shows things related to his personal economic matters, his influence will be more with collective economic matters. Yes, Saturn on his 8th house Mars shows the need for fiscal discipline in matters of collective wealth, but also brings crystalization (Saturn) to practical initiatives (Mars) to jump start jobs (Virgo). Your points measure the critical points of Mars, which of course can bring aggression to/from a being, but can also show dynamic strength of purpose well directed to accomplishing worthy goals quickly.

I find the transits of Mars in my own map to bring great things and positive developments due to it being very strong in my chart. Even difficult aspects to Pluto are historically good for me, due to Pluto being extremely favorable in my chart. Jupiter in his first could mean overreaching, but also that he embodies the vision of a greater ideal of world service and group work (Jupiter ruling his 11th in the first.) Pluto transiting the 11th can be the "seed sower" in a timeless sense.

Hi Special - Glad to hear from you. He offers us hope for the first time since we were young.

Hi Valerie - Yes, well, I figured it was time to offer a few key points to what he's about. There's a lot written, but a lot of it is highly speculative if not outright erroneous (due to wrong birth times, personal subjectivity and fear, etc.)

Hi Matt - Well, as I wrote in another stream, I use either Solar Fire or Matrix. Matrix is good software AND the people are much nicer people. Solar Fire is a good software but IMHO the people are severely lacking in grace, style, and integrity. The chart posted above is Solar Fire, but again, I prefer the people over at Matrix. SF acts like they're doing you a big favor just to answer the phone, and they've done some very nasty things to undercut their vendors in the past. The people who created it are supposedly fabulous folks, but their American license holders are obnoxious.

If we take the 3 key words for the decan in which Obama's Sun, ascendant and moon are placed,

We get:
Sun= Leo from 10 to less than 20 degrees: Keyword: ''Reformation''
Ascendant Aquarius 10 to less than 20 degrees: Keyword: ''Inspiration''
Moon= Gemini 0 to less than 10 degrees: Keyword: ''Intuition''

So it could be read as Obama's destiny is to Reform society through inspired intution.

Hi AceStar - God and 10,000 election watchdogs have indeed blessed us! It's better to dream of a better possibility than live with the chains of conscienceless men. And it's always good to outlive despots so we may serve Truth, Goodness, and Beauty.

Hi Pamela - Great keywords. Also: Expansive Heart Seeking Truth. Adaptable Idealism Exploring Many Views. Curiosity Playing With Engineering Perspectives. He is the light of the first, the package of the third, and the embodiment of the second.